Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, member for Wakefield, that is correct. Under the coalition, electricity prices have increased three per cent. Under the previous government that the member for Wakefield was a member of—the brilliant work of the member for Wakefield—it was an increase of 118 per cent. He carps there from the dispatch box.

We also have to actually look at and talk about the mess we are in. Nowhere is the mess worse than in the member for Wakefield's own home state of South Australia. If you want to look at how not to do it, look at the member for Wakefield's state. The policies they have there have not only caused blackouts but also given South Australia not only the highest electricity prices in the nation but also some of the highest electricity prices in the world. That is as of today, and we know that as of 1 July electricity prices in Adelaide are going to go up by a further 18 per cent. Why are they going up? At least, thankfully, they have done something down there in Adelaide. They have spent another $500 million of South Australia's taxpayers' money, thankfully, to put in a bank of diesel generators so hopefully the lights will not go out again this summertime.

We have to admit that there are big price increases coming through in electricity. But why is this happening? It is happening because of the 20 per cent renewable energy target set by Kevin Rudd. Why was there a 20 per cent renewable energy target? Was it because of a good analysis of the economics? Was it because of a good analysis of the engineering? No. It was simply because it rhymed. We had an energy policy put forward by the previous Labor government for no other reason—it was 20 per cent by 2020—than it rhymed. And we wonder why we are in this absolute, complete mess. Even Dr Finkel, in his report, actually notes that the renewable energy target has caused this mess. I will quote from his report. He says:

Security and reliability have been compromised by poorly integrated variable renewable electricity generators, including wind and solar.

That is a direct quote from the Finkel report.

Mr Champion interjecting—

Would you like to say that you disagree with the Finkel report? Dear oh dear, we hear the member for Wakefield already dismissing the Finkel report.

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